June 03, 2014

Saudi review finds over 100 more MERS infections

A Saudi review of health data has found 113 additional cases of the sometimes deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the state media reported on Tuesday.

The official Saudi Press Agency said the authorities have registered a total of 688 confirmed infections and 282 deaths as a result of MERS. Of those infected, it says 53 are still receiving treatment.

The Health Ministry’s most recent tally of cases, updated daily on its website, listed 575 cases and 190 deaths.

The revised figures come from a re-examination of data since 2012, when MERS was identified, that started last month. Of the total, 53 patients were still being treated, while 353 had recovered, the statement said.

The Health Ministry said it had put in place new measures to make sure data gathering, reporting and transparency were being observed, including standardization of testing and better guidelines for labeling and storing samples.

“While the review has resulted in a higher total number of previously unreported cases, we still see a decline in the number of new cases reported over the past few weeks,” Tariq Madani, head of the ministry's scientific advisory board, was quoted as saying in the emailed statement.

On Monday, the acting health minister, Adel Fakieh, announced he had relieved deputy minister Ziad Memish from his post. Fakieh was appointed in April after King Abdullah sacked his predecessor Abdullah al-Rabeeah following a new MERS outbreak.

Comments

A Saudi review of health data has found 113 additional cases of the sometimes deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the state media reported on Tuesday.

The official Saudi Press Agency said the authorities have registered a total of 688 confirmed infections and 282 deaths as a result of MERS. Of those infected, it says 53 are still receiving treatment.

The Health Ministry’s most recent tally of cases, updated daily on its website, listed 575 cases and 190 deaths.

The revised figures come from a re-examination of data since 2012, when MERS was identified, that started last month. Of the total, 53 patients were still being treated, while 353 had recovered, the statement said.

The Health Ministry said it had put in place new measures to make sure data gathering, reporting and transparency were being observed, including standardization of testing and better guidelines for labeling and storing samples.

“While the review has resulted in a higher total number of previously unreported cases, we still see a decline in the number of new cases reported over the past few weeks,” Tariq Madani, head of the ministry's scientific advisory board, was quoted as saying in the emailed statement.

On Monday, the acting health minister, Adel Fakieh, announced he had relieved deputy minister Ziad Memish from his post. Fakieh was appointed in April after King Abdullah sacked his predecessor Abdullah al-Rabeeah following a new MERS outbreak.